Papers of Sidney Alexander Beveridge - Part 1

29 Dec. 21
To the Director
Australian War Museum.
Dear Sir
In answer to your letter of 23 Nov
asking for some [[accredited?]] chaplains' services in
the war, I submit the accompanying info.
I have as far as possible followed the lines
suggested in your letter. Not forgetting to give
my opinion & suggestions concerning the matters
there mentioned. These opinions, however,
must not be taken to imply any carping
spirit of criticism. I give them for what they
are worth, feeling assured that the majority
of chaplains who served will be in
agreement with them.
Your faithfully
Sidney A Beveridge
M^r [[Pulty?]]
 

Chaplains' Department. - A.I.F.
Report as requested, from the Rev^d S. A. Beveridge.
C.F. 1915-1919.
General Service, units, locations, promotions etc.
1915.
July 1^st  Date of Commission.
  "   16^th  Embarked T.S.S. Demosthenes.
Aug 18^th  Attached 1^st A.G.H. Heliopolis, Egypt.
Aug 21^st  Attached 1^st A.G.H. Heliopolis, Egypt.
Dec 18^th  Transferred by exchange with Rev. W.G.G. Green to
                 8th Brigade - attached 29^th Battalion.
1916.
Jan 13^th  Reported to G.O.C. 8^th Bde at Serapeum, Canal Defence.
Feb. 24^th  Went into Camp at Tel-el-Kebir with Brigade.
Mar. 5^th  Appointed Senior Chaplain 5^th Division.
   "   24^th Moved to Ferry Port - Ismailia.
   "   29^th Outposts, Canal Defences.
Apr 18^th  Returned xxxx Ferry Port.
May 28^th  Marched in to Moaskar for entraining.
June 15^th Entrained with Brigade for Alexandria.
   "      16^th Embarked T.S.S. [[?]].
   "     23^rd  Arrived Marseilles & entrained for Hazebroucke
          via Lyons, Versailles, Boulogne, Calais & S. Omer.
   "   26^th  Detrained at Steenbroucke & marched to Hazebroucke.
July  8^th  Marched to Estaires.
   "     9 ^th  Marched to Fort Romfeu - nr. Erquinheim.
 

 
(2).
1916
July 12^th  Trenches at Bois Grenier Sector.
   "   15^th  Removed to Fleur baix Sector
Sept.  24^th  Houplines Sector - Armentieres.
Oct.  14^th  By road to [[Strazale?]] via Bailleul En route for Somme [[Area?]]
   "  16^th  Entrained at Bailleul.
   "  17^th Arrived Long foré
   "  20^th  By road via Amiens to Buire
   "  21^st  Bivouaced at Mametz Wood.
   "  23^rd  Attached temporarily to 15^th F.A. at Becordal.
1917
Jan. 8^th  Forward to Advance Dressing Station at Beruafar.
Feb. 9th Transferred 5^th Divisional Troops.
Mar. 18^th Forward to Bapaume.
May 8^th  Attached 8^th F.A. at Vaulx- clearing from Bullecourt
May 23^rd Moved back to Bapaume.
June 16^th  Back to Seulis - Division taken out of the line.
July  1      Gazetted Chaplain 3^rd Class A.I.F.
   "  30^th  Transferred to 3^rd A.A.H. Dartford, Kent.
1918
Jan. 8^th  Gazetted Chaplain 3^rd Class. C.M.F.
May 15^th Transferred 3rd Brigade - attached 10th Battalion.
June 11^th  Reposted to C.O. 10th Bn at 
  "      15^th Went into the line at Stragaete

Aug. 1^st. Left for Somme Area via Huringhem Entrained

             at Wiszernes for Port Remy via Somer, Calais, 

              Boulogne and Abbeville.

                                                                 (3)

1918. Aug 8^th. Brigade went into the line at Hamel.

             " 25^th. Returned on leave London.

          Sept. 9^th. Appointed Hospital Visitation London

          Oct 12^th. Attached 3" A.A.H. Dartford.

          Dec 18^th. Embarked T.S.S. Aenoeas for Transport Duty

1919   Feb 6^th. Arrived Melbourne

          Apr. 10^th. Embarked T.S.S. Demosthenes

          June 5^th. Arrived London.

          July 1^st. Gazetted Chaplain 2nd Class A.I.F.

          Aug. 1^st. Embarked T.S.S. Argyllshire for Transport Duty

          Sept. 22^nd Arrived Melbourne

          Nov. 21^st. Commission terminated.

                                                                  (4)

            General Work with Troops

On the outward bound T.S.S. Demosthenes, in addition to the

official Sunday morning Church Parades, voluntary Services

such as Celebrations of Holy Communion, evening services and

frequent classes for preparation for confirmation every

opportunity was taken for making the leisure time of the 

troops as interesting & profitable as possible.

In the earlier stages of the war a great deal of the work

which was afterwards mostly taken over by the G.M.C.A.

with the co-operation of the chaplains, fell to the lot of the

chaplains alone, who in this respect were very much

handicapped for want of the supplies which were

afterwards voluntarily provided both to the G.M.C.A, &

to those in charge of the Australian Comforts Fund. In spite

of this difficulty, however, by a judicious policing of the 

Communal Spirit among the men a great deal was

accomplished for their comfort and amusement.

A library of several hundred volumes was established

by the simple expedient of collecting all books & papers

privately owned, which were voluntarily handed in. These

were catalogued & then issued daily to readers.

Thus the majority of books on board were well circulated

and the library became one of the most popular institutions

                                                                   (5)

on the ship. This method was also adopted later on, in the

camps and outposts in Egypt, permission being always

readily given by the C.Os for several boxes of the books to be

added to the Chaplain's baggage. By this means, until the

troops were actually going into the trenches a constant

supply of reading matter was available for them.

The popular & valuable concert parties, which later became

such an institution in the various units, originated without

doubt in the companies of artistes which were gathered 

together by the chaplains on the troopships and in the

camps in Egypt, & which supplied almost nightly 

amusement to the troops, & did much to enliven &

cheer the monstrous life of troopships & camp.

The athletic interests of the men were catered for by the

periodical organisation of sports meetings, and the very

frequent setting up of the boxing ring. These were arranged

& managed generally by a committee of officers & men, on

which the chaplain invariably had a place and in

most cases took a controlling part.

The interest that some of the officers took in their men, & the

desire they had to aid them in obtaining efficiency was

markedly shown in their conscientious attention to their

training. As an addition to their work, in the many instances

they arranged lectures for their companies on subjects

                                                                                 (6)

which in any conceivable manner might be a help in

strengthening the moral of their men. These subjects were

generally entrusted to the chaplain, who by that means was

able no doubt to advance that side of the general training.

On the homeward bound troopships, after the experience of

five years, far better organisation of thee things was possible,

& more extensive equipment available, so that the chaplain 

was no longer single-handed, but had the valuable help

of the G.M.C.A, Red Cross, Comforts Fund & Education Officers,

in whose work, especially that of the G.M.C.A. & Education Officers,

he took a prominent part, in arranging concerts, lectures,

debates & so on, & thus took his share in the endeavour

to fit the men from ^for the change from the occupation of war

to those of peace -

The alternation of work on troopships, in the camps & outposts 

of Egypt, on the battle areas of France, & in the Hospitals

at Heliopolis & Dartford necessitated a corresponding

alternation in methods of work, where hospital work ^duties involved

a much more personal & intimate contact with the men.

Here, to the general religious work for the whole community

has added the personal work for the individual done in

private & intimate communion, in which the chaplain

undoubtedly felt more satisfaction as to the value of the

work than in the official religious duties which fell to his lot.

                                                     (7)

This personal work with & for the patients was done not

only during the time spent in the wards with them, but

also involved enormous correspondence with their friends

& relatives in Australia & England, more especially was this

the case with one who had spent a long period in the

battle areas & had been present at many deaths & had

buried great numbers of men in the field. The reports

of casualties & deaths sent home to families - the replies

received & in most cases further enquiries made

necessitated a correspondence which was carried on for

months after the events had taken place. Probably in

most units the chaplain in this way, became the

temporary link between a great many of the men &

the families to which they belonged, a link which just going

from the letters received, was a very valuable one in the

minds of both the soldiers in the field & of the family at home.

When in the battle areas regular routine only became

a thing which was practically impossible - here the

value & success of the chaplain's work depended

absolutely on the personal character of the man himself

& his own initiative, & where he was left to carry out

his duties without the interference of unsympathetic

officers (fortunately few in numbers) he had enormous

                                                           (8)

opportunities for helping the men & incidentally taking

his share in the united effort to victory. In the majority

of cases this quiet influence was recognised by those in

command & its value thus greatly increased by their

interest - In some cases the chaplain's work was a 

matter of indifference & treated as non-essential so

that he was left to get on as best he could, while in

a few cases he met with decided opposition which

militated greatly against his usefulness.

The value of the work to be done varied almost with

every day. While recognising that his first duty - that

for which he was commissioned - was to afford every

opportunity which circumstances allowed for the troops

to exercise their religious duties, in the manner to which

they were accustomed in civil life, yet there were

numerous other ways in which service could be rendered

at times when the regular duties were impossible.

In nearly every sector where his unit was placed a 

temporary chapel- in dug out; ruined house, tent or

mess hut - was setup where a service was held

each day, except during the actual fighting - very

seldom was that Service unattended, and even though

other duties prevented those who desired it from being

                                                     (9)

present, there was the knowledge that the services were

being held, & that the church was in their midst, which

from the witness of many of the men was a source of

strength & encouragement to them.

This was practically the full extent of the public religious

service possible when in the line, but opportunities for

personal service was innumerable & were carefully

carried out. There were the aid posts to be visited,

especially during attacks, the killed to be buried, often

under dangerous & distressing circumstances, the coffee

& soup stalls to be supervised, Church Army huts to be

requisitioned, set up & managed of which, through the

instrumentality of the chaplain the Division had

several for its use while in the Somme area, canteens &

mess duties to be taken over, were as so often happened

officers were not available for such purposes, and in

the midst of it all, personal relations , with the men,

whether in trenches, supports or reserves to be kept up, and

many commissions for them to be carried out;

and too often the saddest of all duties the collecting

of the personal effects of the slain & the communication

to their friends of the story of their death.

                                                   (10)

Incidents concerning the character & religious attitude of the men.

Without making this report unduly long mention of one

or two incidents out of a great many, which came under

personal notice may be of interest as typical of the 

kindliness, fortitude & religious feeling of at least a 

large proportion of the A.I.F.

Of the Australian's bravery in battle instances, have been

so numerous that the very word Australian has almost 

become symbolised of that virtue. Of his fortitude in

suffering & apparent indifference to wounds & mutilation

not so much perhaps has been said, and yet this

is probably a sign of greater bravery than the fine deeds

so often done in the heat & excitement of the fight.

To the Gates of No 1. A.G.H Heliopolis in September 1916

three patients strolled up arm in arm, showed their pas

to the Guard & entered. A Chaplain meeting them asked

interested of where they had been "we're been up to Cairo

to show Bill the sights" - Bill was totally blind, and the

three of them had only two eyes between them.

Later the same chaplain, visiting them in their ward

caught them sitting on one bed singing in correct